Open applications

If, having looked at the different Colleges, you don't mind which you attend then you don't have to choose — you could make an open application instead.

You can only submit one application to the University, either selecting a preference College or an open application in your UCAS application. Applications to more than one College, or to one College and an open application are not allowed. In addition, once you have submitted your UCAS application, you cannot change this choice.

After the closing date (15 October), a computer program allocates each open applicant to a College.

The basis of the allocation is to even out the distribution of applicants across the Colleges — applicants are allocated to Colleges which happen, in that year, to have received fewer applications per place in that subject than the average number across all Colleges; open applications from mature students (aged 21 or older) are allocated to one of the four mature Colleges (Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund's or Wolfson).

Once allocated to a College, your application is treated exactly the same as any other application.

For equally well-qualified applicants, making an open application or indicating a preference College makes no difference to your chance of being made an offer.

If you’re an applicant with unusual qualifications (eg a non-standard choice of A Levels for your subject), a mobility and/or sensory impairment, or need advice about your particular circumstances, then it's advisable to apply to a specific College having sought their advice about your circumstances at an early stage, rather than make an open application.

Before you submit an open application, be sure that you’ll be quite happy whatever the outcome of the allocation: we can’t change it once it’s done.

If you decide to make an open application, you should select '9' as the campus code on your UCAS application.

Further information about where your College or open application choice fits into the application process can be found in the applying section.